Peri Peri- Piri Piri Chicken Recipe

My Piri Piri Sauce - video reel here-

Do you love Nando’s Peri Peri chicken? Well, get ready for my homemade (Better than Nando’s) Peri Peri sauce! 🌶️

🌍🇵🇹 Originating from Africa and Portugal, Peri Peri sauce is a vibrant blend of spices and peppers, inspired by the culinary traditions of Africa. Piri Piri peppers are native to Mozambique and Angola and have been a cornerstone of African cuisine.

🔥 These fiery peppers were introduced to the world when Portuguese explorers brought them back from their travels, sharing their bold flavors with the rest of the world. While traditional Peri Peri sauce uses these native peppers, my recipe features a twist - we’re using bird chilis with red bell peppers to turn down the heat some.

So what makes piri piri sauce so irresistible? It's all in the mix of simple yet punchy ingredients like chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, and a blend of herbs and spices. When these elements come together, they create a tangy, spicy sauce that's downright addictive.

But where piri piri truly shines is when it meets chicken. Marinate your chicken in this sauce, toss it on the grill, or throw it in your air fryer and you're in for quite the treat! The heat from the sauce caramelizes over the chicken, giving it that perfect balance of crispy char and juicy tenderness.

With just a few ingredients and a blender, you can whip up your own batch of homemade piri piri sauce right in your kitchen.

It's bold, it's flavorful, so whether you’re marinating chicken, shrimp, drizzling over veggies, or adding a kick to your favorite dishes, level things up with my easy-to-make Piri Piri sauce!

Peri Peri / Piri Piri Sauce Ingredients:

5 piri piri peppers (or substitute bird's eye chilies)
1 red bell pepper
1 white onion
4 large cloves garlic

1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 tsp dried oregano (optional) or fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp dried thyme (optional) or fresh cilantro

1 tsp of black pepper
1 tsp  salt

1 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon (add a little more if you like it more tangy)

1. Start by preparing the piri piri peppers. Remove the stems and seeds from the peppers, then roughly chop them.
2. Peel and crush the garlic cloves.
3. In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped peppers, onions, and crushed garlic to the pan.
4. Cook the pepper mixture  in the olive oil for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peppers begin to soften.
5. Once the peppers are softened, remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
6. Transfer the cooked peppers and garlic to a blender or food processor. Add dry spices and rest of ingredients and blend.
7. Blend the mixture until smooth and well combined. Taste and add salt if needed, add more tang with more lemon juice, or add more chili peppers for added heat.

Peri Peri / Piri Piri Chicken Recipe:

To make Piri Piri chicken, begin by marinating chicken quarters (with the skin on) in a bowl, ensuring all surfaces of the chicken are thoroughly coated with piri piri sauce. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to infuse into the chicken.

Next, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (approximately 200°C). While the air fryer is preheating, lightly oil the cooking pan to prevent sticking.

Once the air fryer is ready, place the chicken quarters skin side up in the cooking pan. Air fry at 400°F for roughly 20 minutes, or until the chicken skin has browned and the edges are slightly charred/darkened.

To ensure the chicken is thoroughly cooked, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The meat should register at least 165°F (approximately 74°C) in the thickest part.

Once the chicken reaches the desired temperature, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your delicious Piri Piri chicken straight from the air fryer!